Roll with it

What to order: Rolled ice cream — a popular Thai treat that’s made its way stateside — has arrived in Minnesota. This local purveyor’s most popular flavors are Oreo Oreo, Strawberry Smashed and Sour Tang.

Bonus: You get to watch as ice cream crafters mix and mash ingredients on a super-cold hibachi (20 below zero), spread it thin to flash freeze it and methodically scrape it up with a special knife to create amazing little rolls, which are then nestled into a bowl and sprinkled with toppings, whipped cream and garnishes like Pocky and gummy worms.

ALSO TRY

Sota Hot & Cold (about three blocks west of the St. Paul Wonders location) also offers rolled ice cream and coffee, while Loulou Sweet & Savory is rocking a food truck and an uptown location at 2839 Emerson Ave. S., Minneapolis, with rolled ice cream, coffee and New Orleans-style beignets!

Crazy for caramel

What to order: Yes, there’s actually a flavor called This $&@! Just Got Serious (salted caramel ice cream with sea salt fudge and salted cashews), and it’s even better than it sounds (and it sounded pretty good to us).

Bonus: Not ready to commit to one flavor? Get a flight of this shop’s most popular tastes — the aforementioned This $&@! Just Got Serious; Exhausted Parent (bourbon-spiked espresso ice cream with bittersweet chocolate chunks); Zanzibar (three kinds of cocoa for a fudgy-brownie flavor); and (for your kid) Superman (colorful fruity swirled ice cream).

Pro tip: Cold Front serves Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, a hugely popular national brand from Madison, Wisconsin. See chocolateshoppeicecream.com for a map of other locations across the state (and the country) that offer this good stuff.

ALSO TRY

Salted Caramel with an Izzy scoop of Graham Cracker at Izzy’s (Minneapolis and St. Paul); Carmel Collision (caramel ice cream with a caramel swirl and chocolate-coated caramel pieces) at Scoops Ice Cream and More (Bloomington).

Death by chocolate

What to order: This hot spot is famous for its long lines — and its 16-scoop mega-platter ($58). But you don’t need all that. Just get one scoop of Ridin’ Duuurty (Oreo milk with Oreo chunks and salted peanut butter) topped with a scoop of Black (“a darkest cocoa”). Don’t worry, both you and the kids will dig this killer-choco combo. The flavor Black is amazingly vegan, sweet and somehow not too dark. See also Hard Knock Life 2.0.

Tropical dream

What to order: If you love coconut, you need to try the Toasted Coconut ice cream. This place (you might have heard it called Crema in the past) makes 1,000 flavors of ice cream, gelato and sorbet in any given year. Plus, Sonny’s is a café with family-friendly food and a charming patio, too, ideal for a date-night dessert.

Dairy free (veg)an

What to order: Sorbet and/or Italian ice are always good bets for kids (and adults) who can’t eat dairy. But why not try something a little different — and creamy without the cream — with Wedgemade Coconut Milk Soft Serve, which comes in vanilla, chocolate or twist. Yes, it’s vegan and gluten free, too.